Mad Prof Marketing

Let’s say you’ve determined the vision for your career, you’ve gone through countless steps, you feel you’ve hit a plateau again and again, you feel limited by the work you’re doing and asking, “Is this all there is?” Entrepreneurship might be the right path for you if you’re seeking a career that offers more autonomy, flexibility, and potential for personal and financial growth. Unlike traditional employment, entrepreneurship allows you to shape your own destiny and create something from the ground up. You might already be familiar with a “career vision”. Entrepreneurial vision and career vision differ in several key aspects:

1. Scope and focus: An entrepreneurial vision is broader, encompassing the future of an entire business or venture. It involves visualizing the desired state of a company, its impact, and its place in the market. A career vision, on the other hand, is more personal and focused on an individual’s professional growth and development within a specific field or industry.
2. Decision-making autonomy: Entrepreneurs have greater control over their vision and can make all decisions regarding their business direction. In contrast, a career vision within traditional employment may be influenced by organizational hierarchies and company goals.
3. Risk and responsibility: Entrepreneurial vision often involves higher risk and greater responsibilities. Entrepreneurs must consider not only their personal growth but also the success of their entire venture, including employees and stakeholders. A career vision typically involves less risk and focuses primarily on personal advancement within an established structure.
4. Flexibility and adaptability: An entrepreneurial vision may need to evolve more rapidly in response to market changes and opportunities. A career vision, while also subject to change, generally follows a more predictable trajectory within an established industry or company.
5. Financial implications: The realization of an entrepreneurial vision can lead to significant financial rewards but also carries greater financial risks. A career vision usually involves more stable, predictable income growth through promotions and salary increases.
6. Impact and scale: Entrepreneurial visions often aim to create something new, solve problems, or make a broader impact on society. Career visions typically focus on personal achievement and contribution within an existing framework.
7. Time horizon: Entrepreneurial visions often have a longer-term perspective, looking 5-10 years into the future or beyond. Career visions may have shorter-term milestones and goals within the context of a longer career path.
8. Independence: An entrepreneurial vision emphasizes independence and self-reliance, while a career vision may involve working within a team or organizational structure.

Both types of visions are important for personal and professional fulfillment, but they cater to different aspirations and risk tolerances.

You may also be familiar with “Career goals”. Career vision and entrepreneurship vision differ significantly in terms of goal-setting:

1. Scope and timeframe: Career vision goals are typically more focused on personal professional development within an established structure, often with shorter-term milestones. Entrepreneurship vision goals are broader, encompassing the future of an entire business venture, and tend to have a longer-term perspective.
2. Flexibility: Entrepreneurial goals often need to be more adaptable and may evolve rapidly in response to market changes and opportunities. Career goals within traditional employment usually follow a more predictable trajectory.
3. Risk and responsibility: Entrepreneurial goal-setting involves higher risk and greater responsibilities, considering not only personal growth but also the success of the entire venture. Career goals typically involve less risk and focus primarily on personal advancement.
4. Decision-making autonomy: Entrepreneurs have greater control over their goals and can make all decisions regarding their business direction. Career goals may be influenced by organizational hierarchies and company objectives.
5. Impact and scale: Entrepreneurial goals often aim to create something new or solve problems on a broader scale. Career goals typically focus on personal achievement and contribution within an existing framework.
6. Financial implications: Entrepreneurial goals can lead to significant financial rewards but also carry greater financial risks. Career goals usually involve more stable, predictable income growth through promotions and salary increases.
7. Interdependence: Entrepreneurial visions often require a team of both visionaries and goal-setters to become reality. Career goals may be more individually focused, though still requiring collaboration within an organizational structure.
8. Motivation: Entrepreneurial goals are often driven by a long-term vision that keeps the entrepreneur excited and motivated. Career goals may be more focused on specific accomplishments or experiences within a given profession.

At this point you’re thinking, “Great, I can shift my mindset on what a vision and goals would mean as an entrepreneur, but…is it right for me?” No one knows better than you if it’s the right fit. Here are some key indicators that entrepreneurship might be right for you:

1. You have a long-term vision: You’re comfortable with setting broader, more expansive goals that encompass the future of an entire business venture.
2. You’re adaptable: You can handle rapid changes and are willing to evolve your goals quickly in response to market shifts and new opportunities.
3. You’re comfortable with risk: You’re willing to take on higher risks and greater responsibilities, not just for your personal growth but for the success of your entire venture.
4. You value autonomy: You prefer having full control over your goals and decision-making processes, rather than working within an established organizational hierarchy.
5. You want to create large-scale impact: Your ambitions involve creating something new or solving problems on a broader scale, beyond personal achievements.
6. You’re prepared for financial uncertainty: You’re willing to accept the potential for significant financial rewards, but also the possibility of greater financial risks.
7. You’re a team player: You’re capable of working with and leading a team of both visionaries and goal-setters to bring your vision to reality.
8. You’re driven by a long-term vision: You find motivation in pursuing a big-picture goal that keeps you excited and committed over an extended period.
9. You desire flexibility: You prefer a less predictable trajectory and the ability to pivot your goals as needed.
10. You’re passionate about building something: You’re excited by the prospect of creating and growing your own venture, rather than advancing within an existing structure.

Entrepreneurship can be a rewarding path for those who align with these characteristics and are prepared for the challenges and opportunities it presents.